Political Parties of India

India’s politics is like a big, noisy street party, full of ideas and energy. With loads of political parties speaking for over a billion people, it’s a wild mix of dreams and arguments. Big names like the BJP and local stars like the DMK are the heart of India political parties. They connect regular people to the government, get folks excited to vote, and shape the country’s future. Let’s jump into the world of political parties in India, using easy words and fun stories to help Class 10 Political Parties, UPSC students, or anyone curious about India political parties.

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What is a Political Party?

A political party is a bunch of people with the same ideas about running the country. They work together to get their leaders, like MPs or state lawmakers, elected to make laws. Think of them as teams with a plan for India. Some, like the Indian National Congress (INC), want votes all over India, while others, like Shiv Sena, focus on state pride, like Maharashtra’s spirit. The Election Commission of India (ECI) picks which parties are “national” or “state,” giving them neat perks like special symbols of political parties for voting.

Why Do Political Parties Matter?

Political parties are like the glue that keeps democracy together. They make elections fun and fair! Here are the 5 functions of political parties in super simple words:

• Hear You Out: They listen to what people want and make plans.
• Show You Voting: They teach why voting’s cool and how to do it.
• Mix Ideas: They blend different thoughts into fair rules.
• Get You Excited: They pump you up to vote and join the fun.
• Find Leaders: They pick and train people to run for office.

Without parties, elections would be crazy! Imagine choosing from thousands of people without teams or symbols of political parties in India, like the BJP’s lotus or AAP’s broom. Parties keep things clear, a big deal in Political Parties Class 10 Notes.

How Do Parties Get Recognized?

The ECI has rules to decide which groups are national political parties or state political parties. Recognized parties get awesome stuff like a fixed symbol of political parties in India and free TV or radio time. Here’s the scoop:

National vs. State Parties: What’s the Difference?

India has two kinds of parties:

• National Parties: These work in lots of states and focus on big things like jobs, safety, or fairness for everyone. They try to unite all of India.
• State Parties: These stick to one or two states and care about local stuff like farming or language rights.

Sometimes, national and state parties join forces, like in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or United Progressive Alliance (UPA). This teamwork helps them build strong governments that listen to everyone.

National Party Status

A party joins the national political parties of India if it:

• Gets 6% of votes in four or more states in Lok Sabha or state elections and has 4 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
• Wins 2% of Lok Sabha seats (at least 11 seats) from three or more states.
• Is a state party in four or more states.

State Party Status

A party becomes a state political party in India if it:

• Gets 6% of votes in a state election and wins 2 seats.
• Gets 6% of votes in a Lok Sabha election from the state and wins 1 seat.
• Wins 3% of seats in the state assembly.
• Has 1 MP for every 25 Lok Sabha seats the state gets.
• Gets 8% or more of total votes in the state.

Since 2016, parties keep their status for two elections, even if they slip up once. If they mess up again, they lose it.

How Does the ECI Choose Parties?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) keeps track of all parties and gives special status to those that do well in elections. Recognized parties get neat benefits, like their own symbol or free TV time. Here’s how it works:

How to Be a National Party

A party becomes a national party if it does one of these:

• Wins 2% of seats in the Lok Sabha (about 11 seats) from 3 states.
• Gets 6% of votes in 4 states in a big election and wins 4 Lok Sabha seats.
• Is a state party in 4 or more states.

How to Be a State Party

A party becomes a state party if it does one of these:

• Wins 3% of seats or 3 seats in the state’s Assembly.
• Gets 1 Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats in the state.
• Gets 6% of votes in a big election and wins 1 Lok Sabha seat plus 2 Assembly seats.
• Gets 8% or more of votes in the state, even if it doesn’t win any seats.

What Do Recognized Parties Get?

• Special Symbols: A logo that voters know, like a lotus or broom.
• Easy Rules: Just need one person to nominate candidates.
• Free Ads: Time on government TV or radio to share their ideas.
• Big Campaigners: Can have 40 famous campaigners (others get 20), and their costs don’t count against the candidates’ budget.
• Voter Lists: Free lists of voters to help plan campaigns.

Parties that aren’t recognized can still try, but it’s harder without these perks.

National Parties in India 2025

In 2025, India has six national parties, chosen by the ECI for their big impact. In April 2023, the ECI took away national status from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of India (CPI), but gave it to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Here’s who’s on the list:

Party Name	Short Name	Symbol	Started	Main Ideas	Office
Bharatiya Janata Party	BJP	Lotus	1980	Strong country, better economy	11, Ashoka Road, New Delhi
Indian National Congress	INC	Hand	1885	Fairness, rights for all	24, Akbar Road, New Delhi
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	CPI-M	Hammer, Sickle & Star	1964	Workers’ rights, equality	A.K. Gopalan Bhawan, New Delhi
Bahujan Samaj Party	BSP	Elephant*	1984	Helping Dalits and minorities	4, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, New Delhi
National People’s Party	NPP	Book	2013	Tribal welfare, local growth	MDU Building, Imphal
Aam Aadmi Party	AAP	Broom	2012	Honest leaders, no corruption	Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP

Note: The BSP’s Elephant symbol works everywhere except Assam, where they choose a different one.

State Parties in India 2025

India has 58 state parties in 2025, each helping out in their own states. Here’s a look at some of the big ones:

Party Name	Short Name	Symbol	Started	States	Office
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	AIADMK	Two Leaves	1972	Tamil Nadu, Puducherry	Chennai
Biju Janata Dal	BJD	Conch	1997	Odisha	Bhubaneswar
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	DMK	Rising Sun	1949	Tamil Nadu, Puducherry	Chennai
Samajwadi Party	SP	Bicycle	1992	Uttar Pradesh	New Delhi
Telangana Rashtra Samithi	TRS	Car	2001	Telangana	Hyderabad
Telugu Desam Party	TDP	Bicycle	1982	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana	Hyderabad
Shiv Sena	SS	Bow & Arrow	1966	Maharashtra	Mumbai
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference	JKNC	Plough	1932	Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu
Janata Dal (United)	JD(U)	Arrow	1999	Bihar	New Delhi
AJSU Party	AJSU	Banana	1986	Jharkhand	Ranchi

Note: Want the full list of 58 state parties? Visit the ECI’s website (eci.gov.in) for the smaller ones.

Challenges for National Parties

Being a national party in India is hard work. Here’s why:

• Tough Local Teams: State parties like DMK or BJD are really strong in their areas, so national parties struggle to win votes there.
• Making Everyone Happy: India has so many cultures and needs that one plan might not work everywhere. Focusing on one state can upset others.
• Working Together: National parties often need state parties to form a government, but that means giving up some of their ideas.

How Many Political Parties in India?

As of March 2024, India has 6 national parties of India, 58 state parties, and over 2,700 unrecognized parties. That’s a ton of voices! From NDA political parties like the BJP to opposition groups like the INC, and smaller regional political parties of India like the SP, there’s a party for every idea. Want the full list of political parties in India? Grab a Political Parties in India PDF from eci.gov.in.

The Big Players: National Parties in India

Let’s check out the 6 national parties of India (as of National Parties in India 2025, no 8 national parties of India or 9 national parties of India yet, despite some chatter). These are the big names with fans all over. Here’s a peek at the top 10 political parties in India, starting with national ones, with their political parties of India and their symbols.

• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

  • Symbol: Broom
  • Started: 2012
  • Leader: Arvind Kejriwal
  • Big Ideas: Stop corruption, better schools, and healthcare for everyone.
  • Where They Rule: Delhi and Punjab.
  • Seats: 3 in Lok Sabha, 10 in Rajya Sabha, 122 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: AAP rocked politics with clean government ideas, perfect for Political Parties Class 10.

• Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

  • Symbol: Elephant
  • Started: 1984
  • Leader: Mayawati
  • Big Ideas: Help Dalits and left-out groups.
  • Where They Rule: Big in Uttar Pradesh, but no states now.
  • Seats: 0 in Lok Sabha, 1 in Rajya Sabha, 3 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: They stand up for people who don’t get heard.

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

  • Symbol: Lotus
  • Started: 1980
  • Leader: J.P. Nadda
  • Big Ideas: Hindu pride, growing the economy, and tough security.
  • Where They Rule: 14 states, like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
  • Seats: 240 in Lok Sabha, 96 in Rajya Sabha, 1,481 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: The BJP leads NDA political parties and runs India.

• Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))

  • Symbol: Hammer, Sickle, and Star
  • Started: 1964
  • Leader: M.A. Baby
  • Big Ideas: Workers’ rights, fairness, and no religion in politics.
  • Where They Rule: Kerala.
  • Seats: 4 in Lok Sabha, 5 in Rajya Sabha, 80 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: They fight for equality in some states.

• Indian National Congress (INC)

  • Symbol: Hand
  • Started: 1885
  • Leader: Mallikarjun Kharge
  • Big Ideas: Unity, fairness, and growth for all.
  • Where They Rule: 3 states, like Karnataka and Telangana.
  • Seats: 101 in Lok Sabha, 27 in Rajya Sabha, 689 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: The oldest party, with a huge role in India’s past.

• National People’s Party (NPP)

  • Symbol: Book
  • Started: 2013
  • Leader: Conrad Sangma
  • Big Ideas: Growth and pride for Northeast India.
  • Where They Rule: Meghalaya.
  • Seats: 0 in Lok Sabha, 1 in Rajya Sabha, 44 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: They focus on the Northeast’s special needs.

Top State Parties in India

State political parties in India care about local stuff and often team up with big parties. Here are 5 state parties of India that shine:

• All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

  • Symbol: Grass and Flowers
  • Started: 1998
  • Leader: Mamata Banerjee
  • Where They Rule: West Bengal.
  • Seats: 29 in Lok Sabha, 13 in Rajya Sabha, 230 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: A big deal in West Bengal with growing national power.

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)

  • Symbol: Rising Sun
  • Started: 1949
  • Leader: M.K. Stalin
  • Where They Rule: Tamil Nadu.
  • Seats: 22 in Lok Sabha, 10 in Rajya Sabha, 137 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: Loves Tamil culture and pride.

• Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

  • Symbol: Bicycle
  • Started: 1982
  • Leader: N. Chandrababu Naidu
  • Where They Rule: Andhra Pradesh.
  • Seats: 16 in Lok Sabha, 2 in Rajya Sabha, 135 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: A strong player in Andhra Pradesh.

• Samajwadi Party (SP)

  • Symbol: Bicycle
  • Started: 1992
  • Leader: Akhilesh Yadav
  • Where They Rule: No states right now.
  • Seats: 37 in Lok Sabha, 4 in Rajya Sabha, 112 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: Popular with minorities and backward classes in Uttar Pradesh.

• Shiv Sena

  • Symbol: Bow and Arrow
  • Started: 1966
  • Leader: Eknath Shinde
  • Where They Rule: Part of Maharashtra’s ruling team.
  • Seats: 7 in Lok Sabha, 0 in Rajya Sabha, 57 in state assemblies.
  • Why They Matter: A loud voice for Marathi identity.

Smaller Unrecognized Parties

India has over 2,700 unrecognized parties focusing on local or specific issues. Some examples of political parties are:

• Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA): Stands up for left-out groups in Maharashtra.
• Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM): Run by actor Kamal Haasan in Tamil Nadu.
• Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD): Helps farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

These regional political parties of India don’t always win big, but they shake things up by raising local issues or splitting votes.

What Are the 4 Types of Political Parties?

Political parties come in different styles. Here are the 4 types of political parties for Class X Political Parties:

• Elite Parties: Run by a few important people, like the early INC. They focus on winning, not adding members.
• Mass Parties: Bring together big groups, like workers or farmers. CPI(M) is a good example, uniting workers.
• Catch-All Parties: Try to please everyone. BJP and INC do this, welcoming all kinds of voters.
• Cartel Parties: Depend on government money and care less about ideas. These are rare in India.

Party Symbols and Colors

Symbols of political parties of India are a big deal, especially in villages where people know logos better than names. Here’s the top 10 political parties in India with symbols:

• BJP: Lotus (saffron for Hindu pride).
• INC: Hand (tricolor for unity).
• AAP: Broom (blue and yellow for hope).
• CPI(M): Hammer, Sickle, and Star (red for workers).
• BSP: Elephant (blue for Dalit pride).
• NPP: Book (for Northeast growth).
• AITC: Grass and Flowers (green for West Bengal’s vibe).
• DMK: Rising Sun (Tamil pride).
• TDP: Bicycle (yellow for progress).
• SP: Bicycle (red and green for socialism).

These political parties of India with their symbols make voting easy and feel personal.

How Do Parties Pay for Stuff?

Elections cost a ton! Political parties of India get money from:

• Donations by supporters and businesses.
• Fees from members.
• Freebies from the government, like TV or radio time.

The ECI makes sure things stay fair by banning foreign money and limiting big donations.

Land for Party Offices

The government gives major political parties of India land in Delhi for offices, based on how many MPs they have:

• Up to 15 MPs: 500 sq.m.
• 16–25 MPs: 1,000 sq.m.
• 26–50 MPs: 2,000 sq.m.
• 51–100 MPs: 1 acre.
• 101–200 MPs: 2 acres.
• 201+ MPs: 4 acres.

This land is just for offices, not homes or shops. If a party closes, the land goes back.

Challenges for Parties

Major political parties of India face some tough stuff:

• Too Many Parties: So many groups make alliances tricky.
• Playing Favorites: Some parties give perks to loyal friends, not fair policies.
• Family Rule: Lots of parties are run by families, blocking new ideas.
• Splitting Votes: Small parties can mess up elections by dividing votes.

Why It All Matters

India political parties are the spark of democracy, showing what people care about. From national political parties of India like the BJP to 5 regional political parties of India like the DMK, each adds to India’s story. Knowing about political parties, their symbols of political parties of India, and what they do helps you understand this awesome system, whether for Class 10 Political Parties, National Parties in India UPSC, or just for fun. For the latest info, check eci.gov.in or grab a Political Parties in India PDF.

FAQs of Political Parties of India

How many national parties are in India in 2025?

Six: BJP, INC, CPI-M, BSP, NPP, and AAP.

What’s different about national and state parties?

National parties work across India on big issues; state parties focus on local stuff in one or two states.

How does a party become national?

Win 2% of Lok Sabha seats from 3 states, get 6% votes in 4 states plus 4 seats, or be a state party in 4+ states.

Why are national parties important?

They bring states together, make big plans, and include everyone.

Can a state party become a national party?

Yep, if it gets big enough, like AAP did in 2023.